Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

CAPE DORSET (Aug 31/98) - The mayor of Cape Dorset says that even though he thoroughly enjoys his job, he is not a politician.

"You've got to have determination and courage. You've got to enjoy politics and be a politician -- I'm not," laughs John Curley from the chamber where decisions affecting the 1,200 residents of Cape Dorset are made on a bi-monthly basis.

Despite his admitted lack of political drive, Curley is an effective mayor who works hard, gets the job done and gives credit where credit is due.

"Everything goes through the council first before it's decided on. It's not just me that makes the decisions," says Curley, explaining that the hamlet gained control over several territorial departments in 1994 and has been practising self-government ever since.

"The government of the NWT transferred them to us. We're taking care of it. It's good, we know what we want."

While the development of land around the Cape Dorset area is currently a major issue at the municipal level, Curley says that Nunavut and decentralization occupies much of his local government's time.

"We don't know which department is coming to town. It's a waiting game for us," says Curley, who does know that with the new department, more than 26 housing units and 70 jobs will come to Cape Dorset and with them, a drastic increase in population and social problems.

"There's always social impact. It might not be easy to handle but we've got plans for that social growth," says Curley, a former resident of the Keewatin region who has lived in the tightly knit community of Cape Dorset on and off for the last 15 years.

On his way to the elders' gathering he helped plan in Salluit, Nunavik, Curley took the time to say that even though he is managing to juggle the mayoral duties during this rapid period of growth and development, he isn't entirely sure that he won't trade in his gavel for a business license during the next municipal election.

"I'm just thinking about that right now. I might have other things planned up, business-wise."